Fugitive suspected of kidnapping arrested in Anoka County

Published May 25, 2012 at 2:12 pm

Dennis Wayne Aasen, 39, suspected of kidnapping his ex-girlfriend and beating and abandoning her south of Little Falls, was arrested Tuesday in Anoka County. Aasen was the suspect local law enforcement searched for the evening of May 17, into the early morning hours of May 18, on a lead from the Pope County Sheriff Office.

On May 17, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office conducted a welfare check on Jenna Lee Forslin, 30, in Clontarf. Officers found evidence that the woman may have been assaulted and taken against her will and contacted the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA). The victim’s 1999 Chevrolet Suburban was missing from the residence, but a vehicle that had been stolen from Sherburne County the previous evening, in which Aasen was the suspect, was parked in the garage.

A statewide alert was sent out for both subjects and the Suburban.

That evening, the Pope County Sheriff’s Office made contact with Forslin, who was alone in her vehicle on Highway 10 near Little Falls. The Morrison County Sheriff’s Office was contacted to respond and took Forslin into protective custody. Aasen was reported to have left on foot 15 minutes prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

A perimeter was set up in the Little Falls area and local law enforcement agencies attempted to locate Aasen, unsuccessfully. The BCA, Pope County Sheriff’s Office and many other law enforcement agencies throughout the state were involved in the attempt to locate Aasen through tips received.

On Tuesday, the Metro Fugitive Unit was contacted for assistance and was able to take all of the information that had been gathered over the previous five days, along with new leads, and take over the investigation in the Twin Cities metro area. The Metro Fugitive Unit, with the assistance of the BCA and the Fridley Police Department, apprehended Aasen at approximately 6:30 p.m. in Anoka County without incident.

According to a press release from the Pope County Sheriff’s Department, Aasen was transported to the Douglas County Jail and is awaiting his first appearance on pending charges. Aasen will be charged with kidnapping, burglary, domestic assault, false imprisonment and making terrorist threats. A complaint was filed with the Pope County Court Wednesday.